More Real Time Addendum: This isn't really worthy of its own post, but these sentences are why I make sure to read every Jonah Goldberg piece I can find-
So I was watching Real Time with Bill Maher like I often do and former San Francisco mayor Willie Brown was attempting to say that a majority of black were living below the poverty line. Bill Maher promptly called bullshit and pointed out that a majority were middle class, shutting up Willie Brown long enough for Joy Behar (host of such inanities as The View) to point out, "If it wasn't for social programs like welfare most of them would be poor." (paraphrased)
Is it just me or is that the most racist thing you've ever heard? She basically just said that black people can not succeed in America if not for liberals giving them enough money to escape poverty.
and, uh... keep up the good work on the previous post, I hope we aren't done with that yet.
The porkbusters fight is fun now, but not since early cave men tried to train grizzly bears to give them tongue-baths has a project seemed more obviously doomed to end in disappointment. Expecting Congress — of either party — to give back pork which has already been approved and passed into law is like expecting crack whores to give refunds days after services have been rendered.and-
Folks like me had been playing the role of Don King for months, promising the fight of the century only to find that John Roberts was Mike Tyson and the entire Democratic wing of the Senate Judiciary Committee (and I use the term in its most catholic sense so as to include Arlen Specter) were the cumulative equivalent of one of those obscure doughy bouncers King threw in the ring to keep the pay-per-view green rolling-in. Instead of the image of Biden, Schumer, and Feinstein pummeling Roberts up against the ropes on C-SPAN to the sound of Brian Lamb shouting “Only in America!” we got the sort of submissive urinating you usually find when poodles are put in a pit bull’s cage.
So I was watching Real Time with Bill Maher like I often do and former San Francisco mayor Willie Brown was attempting to say that a majority of black were living below the poverty line. Bill Maher promptly called bullshit and pointed out that a majority were middle class, shutting up Willie Brown long enough for Joy Behar (host of such inanities as The View) to point out, "If it wasn't for social programs like welfare most of them would be poor." (paraphrased)
Is it just me or is that the most racist thing you've ever heard? She basically just said that black people can not succeed in America if not for liberals giving them enough money to escape poverty.
and, uh... keep up the good work on the previous post, I hope we aren't done with that yet.
posted by Justin at 8:42 PM 
8 Comments:
i think i ate your chocolate squirrel
It’s interesting, because White “Conservatives” and Black “Liberals” agree that this is a racist argument, but they mean different things by it. Whites tend to view this argument as one that calls into question the ABILITY OF AFRICAN AMERICANS to succeed without special consideration. Blacks tend to make this argument as one that calls into question an African American’s ABILITY TO SUCCEED without special consideration. I think that the differences in those arguments are indicative of a disagreement about fundamental orientation to race, class, and society.
Whites (who make this argument) tend to understand America as a fair place that provides opportunity to all (if not equal opportunity to all) and that “natural ability,” intelligence, and motivation are the factors that determine success in this environment. Because of this fundamental orientation, this argument only has meaning when related to the ability of African Americans.
Blacks (who make this argument) tend to understand America as an unfair place that provides opportunity based on social position (if not determined by social position) and that “race,” class, and culture are the factors that determine success in this environment. Because of this fundamental orientation, this argument only has meaning when relating to an African American’s ability to succeed.
So, it seems racist to you because you could not, in your framework, make this argument without “being a racist.” That’s all that’s going on here.
Yeah. It's only KINDA racist. I mean, she might be right, and if she is, SHE'S not a racist, but something or someone is.
But i agree that the pervading opinion amongst the liberal intelligentsia is that the poor miserable lesser black race could never thrive without the loving charity of the goodly white man. This is the sort of racism that was born out of slavery in the south when the rich white guys there realized they couldn't keep blacks down with violence and hatred, so they contacted Ted Kenndy and learned how to do it with love and money instead. Then they got Jesse Jackson in on the deal, and uncle ted's little buddy did his best to see that racism never died.
granted, my post is a cheap shot at both ted kennedy and jesse jackson.
redhurt: did you read my comment before you posted yours?
If so, I take it that you reject the distinction in meaning that I offer?
If not, in reading it now, does that influence your opinion about the nature of her comments or the nature of the liberal intelligentsia’s framework?
"The pervading opinion amongst the liberal intelligentsia is that the poor miserable lesser black race could never thrive without the loving charity of the goodly white man."
redhurt, can you tell me who you're talking about (IE, who the liberal intelligentsia are) and what you mean?
Charles - How about my senator, Hillary Clinton in her book "It Takes a Village"? I think she counts, right? By the way, and excellent slam on her was Sen. Santorum's "It Takes a Family". Eat that you liberal trash! Go become the next president, see what we care!
j. morg: I read it, and I don't reject your distinction outright. I think you're right to a point and that you have a good point to offer, but you can't just go calling every instance of reverse racism a matter of perspective. Sometimes it's quite clear. I don't think this is one of those times, so the point stands, but those times do exist, and that was my point.
Chuck: Hillary, Kennedy (John, Robert and Ted) and Jesse Jackson, for starters. I named Kennedy and Jackson specifically in the post to point them out and pre-empt your question, but since you asked it anyway I'll add the others too.
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